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A New Perspective on Trapped Radiation Belts in Planetary AtmospheresThe charged particle fluxes trapped in the magnetic dipole fields of certain planets in our Solar System are interesting signatures of planetary properties in space physics. They also represent a source of potentially hazardous radiation to spacecraft during planetary and interplanetary exploration. The Earth s trapped radiation belts have been studied for years and the physical mechanisms by which primary radiation from the Sun and Galaxy is captured is well understood. The higher-energy particles collide with molecules in the planetary atmosphere and initiate large cascades of secondary radiation which itself becomes trapped by the magnetic dipole field of the planet. Some of it is even backscattered as albedo neutrons.
Document ID
20050167791
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Diaz, A.
(Texas Technological Univ. Lubbock, TX, United States)
Lodhi, M. A. K.
(Texas Technological Univ. Lubbock, TX, United States)
Wilson, T. L.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI, Part 4
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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